View source for 25 Steps to Build Your Own Micro ISV

Turning an amateur software project into a professional project is a straight forward process -- but it involves ''a lot'' of steps.

We're putting together articles on each of the steps we've identified, as a way to help other developers turning their fledgling idea into a working [[MicroISV]].


1. [[Register That Domain]] 

2. [[Reliable Hosting]] 

3. [[Website Design]] 

4. [[Basic Website Content]] 

5. Install [[Traffic Monitoring]] on your site 

6. Create forums, [[Encourage Feedback]]

7. [[Maintain a FAQ]] 

8. [[Get The Best Screenshots You Can]] 

9. [[Configure Email For Your Domain]] 

10. [[Establish Payment Account]] 

11. [[Allow Payment]] from your website 

12. [[Create a PAD file]] (portable application description)

13. [[Register at Download Sites]]

14. Strategy: [[Separate "Free" From "Professional"]] product

15. [[Write Your Own EULA]] (end user license agreement) -- infact write two! 

16. [[Auto Update Strategy]] 

17. [[License Activation Webservice/Website]] 

18. Get a [[License Management Database]] 

19. [[Build a Proper Installer]] 

20. [[Obfuscate Your Assemblies]] 

21. Automate Your [[Build+Release Strategy]] 

22. Free up enough time/resources for [[Dealing With Support]] 

23. [[Shiny, Usable, Helpful]]

24. Plan and enact your [[Promotional Strategy]] 

25. [[Do It All Again]]